"Sir, you're right. If this world could be brought under the Imperium's control, it would surely become an agricultural world capable of feeding countless people."
"Pfft—calling it an agricultural world would be far too unfair to this place. It should become a garden world, a sanatorium to comfort wounded soldiers, just like Yanni VII, which we conquered."
"Whatever this world's fate may be, one thing is beyond question. It will serve The Emperor's great cause."
"That's right. Long live the Imperium! Long live The Emperor!"
"Shh! Quiet, lads." Hais stopped the soldiers' hushed discussion with a gesture. He was certain his ears had caught an unusual sound amid the forest's birdsong and insect cries.
It sounded like... sawing wood.
Nature did not saw wood on its own! If there was such a sound, that meant civilization existed nearby.
The group concealed themselves and advanced swiftly. Their heavy armor was not supported by their flesh alone; in a sense, it could be considered a kind of light power armor.
Huddled in the shadows, they could clearly see the distant clearing beneath the sunlight. It was a village, except what wandered through it were not humans, but skeletons moving with stiff, mechanical precision.
"Witchcraft..." Hais and the other soldiers wore looks of hatred. They had witnessed far too many such evils during the Great Crusade.
Those skeletons had certainly been transformed from people. As for why they had been turned into skeletons...
There was no need to dwell on that question. They only knew that any race or civilization that persecuted humanity deserved the most thorough extermination.
Hais carefully observed the village through his binoculars, judging the enemy's strength from every detail. When his gaze settled on a massive Death Knight, the undead creature, which acted only on instinct and orders, abruptly